There have been many, many attempts to push these types of projects in New Mexico over the decades. Rare earth minerals have been found in a number of locations in trace amounts, but none have been economically feasable to recover. Same goes for platinum group metals.
this research comes from a man that has spent many years in this part of new mexico,go to his website and read all that he has written on metals, it will take quite awhile but is well worth the time,i find him to be very helpfull if you e-mail him for info.. he has always responded to my questions with very good advice, i have encouraged him to publish some of his 'stories' (for lack of a better word). give it a try , i think you will like it. whitt459